Central Coast Bushwalks

'less words more bushwalks'

These bushwalks are set out simply giving you a map that you can use to locate yourself on and a google maps link to the start location so that you can find your way there straight away. We've also included a lot of secret bushwalks on the Central Coast for the more adventurous.

Find your bushwalk in 4 ways:

The map to the left which you can can press 'locate me' on to find out what walks are nearby (You will need to allow it to show your location).
By the type of walk you are interested in below, these are based on things we're interested in such as swims and sunsets or life circumstances such as having children or dogs.
By distance below
In alphabetical order at the bottom

When you are looking at a walk map you should be able to click on "locate me" to let yourself follow the track (you'll need to allow openmaps to access your location).

Central Coast Bushwalks – Find the Best Walks Near You

Looking for a great bushwalk on the Central Coast? Whether you're after a short family walk, a dog friendly trail, or a swim in a natural pool, this guide will help you find the perfect walk. We’ve grouped together the most popular bushwalks by what people are actually searching for – so you can find exactly what you need.

Public Transport Accessible

Find walks near train stations or bus stops, like Gosford to Wyoming, or Point Clare to Tascott.

Walks with Swims

Cool off in natural swimming holes like Emerald Pool, Somersby Falls, or Pearly Ponds. Perfect for summer days and family adventures.

Pram/ Accessible Walks

Easy, flat paths like the Bulgandry Aboriginal Engraving Walk or the Chittaway Point Dog Walk. Great for wheelchairs, prams, or those wanting a gentle stroll.

beginner bushwalks on the central coast - red gum loop

Short/ Beginner Bushwalks

If you're just starting out or want an easy walk, try the Red Gum Loop, Pearl Beach Arboretum, or the Wildflower Walk at Umina Beach.

image for cool bushwalks on a hot day on the central coast - strickland state forest

Cool bushwalks for a Hot Day

Shaded trails like Strickland State Forest and Katandra Reserve offer relief from the sun, with cool gullies and forest cover.

Cave Walks

Explore unique rock formations and caves on tracks like Rumbalara Reserve, Richter’s Cave, and the Megacave trail.

Sunset Walks

Catch the best light at Phegans Bay Reserve, Killcare, or Woy Woy to Blackwall Mountain.

Sunrise Walks

Start your day right with ocean views from Box Head, Bouddi Coastal Walk, or Wyrrabanong Coastal Walk.

Waterfall Walks

Kariong Brook Falls, Gap Creek Falls, and Somersby Falls are some of the best waterfall walks in the region.

Leech Free Walks

Avoid rainforest trails after rain. Dry, open walks like Bouddi Coastal walk and Box Head are usually leech free. Always check weather and track type.

Secret Bushwalks

These walks are not official, they are off the real track, whisper paths, with stunning destinations, from Spion Kop to Woy Woy Baths

Dog Walks

Great walks to do with your dog include Patonga Dog Walk, Copacabana Foreshore, Wamberal Beach, and the Tunnel Trail. Look for walks that allow dogs on or off leash.

Under 1km:

Phegans Bay - Olive Avenue (0.4km)

Adcock Park Mangroves (0.4km)

Strickland - Aboriginal Engravings (0.4km)

Bulgandry Aboriginal Engravings (0.4km)

Elephant Rock Patonga (0.5km)

Mt Ettalong Lookout near Umina (0.8km)

North Avoca Dog Walk (0.6km) Return

Patonga Beach Dog Walk (0.6km)

Ironbark Falls (0.6km Return)

Forresters Beach Dog Walk (0.6km) Return

Katandra Seymour Ponds Loop (0.8km)

East Gosford Friendship Walk (0.8km)

Pearl Beach Dog Walk (0.8km) Return

Killcare Beach Dog Walk (0.8km) Return

Boardinghouse Dam (0.8km)

North Entrance Beach Dog Walk (1km) Return

Somersby Aboriginal Engravings (1km)

Somersby Falls (1km Return)

Berry's Head - Jane Young Loop (1km)

Pearl Beach Arboretum (1km)

Berrys Head - Themeda Track Loop (1km)

South Umina Dog Walk (1km) Return

Under 4km:

Mt Penang Parklands Dog Walk (1.km) Loop Kariong

Hardys Bay Foreshore Dog Walk (1.2km) Return

Copacabana Beach Dog Walk (1.2km) Return

North Shelly Beach Dog Walk (1.2km) Return

Gap Creek Falls 1.4km return

Ourimbah Ridgetop Walk (1.6km) Return

Ettalong Beach Dog Walk (1.6km) Return

Chittaway Point Dog Walk (1.6km) Return

Avondale Sandy Creek Circuit (2.4km)

Strickland Falls (1.8km)

Phegans Bay - Elaroo Reserve (1.8km)

Avondale Dairy Girls Circuit (2.5km)

Girrakool Loop (2km)

Dangar Island Aboriginal Engravings (2km)

Budgewoi Beach Dog Walk (2.4km) Return

Nagari Reserve Loop (2.2km)

Strickland - Cabbage Tree Tack (2.3km)

Strickland Arboretum (2.3km)

Wyoming Dog Walk (2.2km) Return

Narara Railway Dam (2.5km)

Berry's Head - Explorer (2.5km)

Bullimah Spur Track (2.8km)

Somersby Falls Lower Swimming Hole 3km return

Lyre Trig, Glyphs and Guardian Loop (3km)

Avondale Dairy Boys Circuit (2.9km)

Winney Bay Lookout to Avoca Beach (3km)

Niagara Park Rainforest Walk (3km Return)

North Avoca Lake Explorer (3.3km)

Point Clare Water Walk (3km)

Wyoming Rainforest Loop (3km)

Rumbalara - Donnison Street Loop (3km)

Wamberal Beach Dog Walk (3km) Return

Box Head Track (3km)

Lobster Beach (3km)

Rumbalara - Tottenham Place Loop (3km)

Woy Woy - Lions Park - Blackwall Mt (3.6km)

Tallow Beach Explore (4km)

Girrakool - Piles Creek Loop (4km)

Umina Beach Wildflower Walk (4km)

Red Gum Loop (4km)

Kariong Brook Falls (4km)

Katandra to St Johns Lookout (4km)

Boudi - Third Trail Return (4km)

Point Clare to Tascott (4km)

Wyrrabalong Coastal Walk (4km)

Tunnel Trail Dog Walk (4km) Return

Kincumber Waterfront Walk (5km) One Way

Under 10km:

Megacave (5km)

Daleys Point Aboriginal Engravings (5km Return)

Strickland - Bottom to Top (5km)

Woy Woy Baths - 5km Return

Ritcher's Cave Short Walk (5km)

Pearly Ponds (6km)

Rumbalara - Plateau Road Ridgeline Loop (6km)

Daleys Point Loop (7km)

Palm Grove Walk 7km Return

Mt Alison Ridgeline Return (8km return or 4km one way)

Mt Alison Firetrail Dog Walk (8km return or 4km one way)

Boudi - Coastal Walk (8km)

Mt Wondabyne Loop (8km)

Kincumber - Island View Drive Loop (8km)

Wisemans Ferry Old North Road 9km Loop

Ritcher's Cave Long Walk (8.2km)

Koolewong to Spion Kop (8.5km)

Niagara Park to Strickland (10km)

10-15 km:

Popran - Emerald Pool (10.5km)

Gosford to Wyoming (11km)

Spion Kop Return - Bambina Road (13km)

Tunnel Trail (12km) Return

Mill Creek 8.2-11km Return

Gosford Station to Lisarow Station (13km)

Over 15 km:

Popran - Mt Olive + Postman's track (20km)

Brooklyn to Woy Woy Via Little Wobby (16km)

Upper Mangrove 10 Mile Hollow Loop 24.3km

Tuggerah Lake Walk 22km One Way

The Entrance North to Canton Beach 25km One Way

Upper Mangrove to Wisemans Ferry 30km

Full List of walks in alphabetical order:

Adcock Park Mangroves (0.4km)

Avondale Dairy Boys Circuit (2.9km)

Avondale Dairy Girls Circuit (2.5km)

Avondale Sandy Creek Circuit (2.4km)

Berry's Head - Explorer (2.5km)

Berry's Head - Jane Young Loop (1km)

Berrys Head - Themeda Track Loop (1km)

Bulgandry Aboriginal Engravings (0.4km)

Boardinghouse Dam (0.8km)

Bouddi - Box Head (3km)

Bouddi - Bullimah Spur Track (2.8km)

Bouddi - Coastal Walk (8km)

Bouddi - Lobster Beach (3km)

Bouddi - Third Trail Return (4km)

Bouddi - Tallow Beach Explorer (4km)

Brooklyn to Woy Woy Via Little Wobby (16km)

Budgewoi Beach Dog Walk (2.4km) Return

Copacabana Beach Dog Walk (1.2km) Return

Chittaway Point Dog Walk (1.6km) Return

Daleys Point Aboriginal Engravings (5km Return)

Daleys Point Loop (7km)

Dangar Island Aboriginal Engravings (2km)

East Gosford Friendship Walk (0.8km)

Elephant Rock Patonga (0.5km)

Ettalong Beach Dog Walk (1.6km) Return

The Entrance North to Canton Beach 25km One Way

Forresters Beach Dog Walk (0.6km) Return

Gap Creek Falls 1.4km return

Girrakool Loop (2km)

Girrakool - Piles Creek Loop (4km)

Gosford to Wyoming (11km)

Gosford Station to Lisarow Station (13km)

Hardys Bay Foreshore Dog Walk (1.2km) Return

Kariong Brook Falls (4km)

Katandra Seymour Ponds Loop (0.8km)

Katandra to St Johns Lookout (4km)

Kincumber - Island View Drive Loop (8km)

Kincumber Waterfront Walk (5km) One Way

Killcare Beach Dog Walk (0.8km) Return

Koolewong to Woy Woy Bay via Spion Kop (11km)

Lyre Trig, Heiroglyphs and Guardian Tree Loop (3km)

Megacave (5km)

Mt Alison Firetrail Dog Walk (8km return or 4km one way)

Mt Alison Ridgeline Return (8km return or 4km one way)

Mt Ettalong Lookout near Umina (0.8km)

Mt Wondabyne Loop (8km)

Mt Penang Parklands Dog Walk (1.km) Loop Kariong

Mill Creek 8.2-11km Return

Nagari Reserve Loop Umina Beach (2.2km)

Narara Railway Dam (2.5km)

Niagara Park to Strickland (10km)

Niagara Park Rainforest Walk(3km Return)

North Avoca Lake Explorer (3.3km)

North Avoca Dog Walk (0.6km) Return

North Shelly Beach Dog Walk (1.2km) Return

North Entrance Beach Dog Walk (1km) Return

Ourimbah Ridgetop Walk (1.6km) Return

Palm Grove Walk 7km Return

Patonga Beach Dog Walk (0.6km) Return

Pearl Beach Arboretum (1km)

Pearl Beach Dog Walk (0.8km) Return

Pearly Ponds (6km)

Phegans Bay - Elaroo Reserve (1.8km)

Phegans Bay - Olive Avenue (0.4km)

Point Clare to Tascott (4km)

Point Clare Water Walk (3km)

Popran - Emerald Pool (10.5km)

Ironbark Falls (0.6km Return)

Popran - Postmans Track (20km)

Red Gum Loop (4km)

Ritcher's Cave Short Walk (5km)

Ritcher's Cave Long Walk (8.2km)

Rumbalara - Donnison Street Loop (3km)

Rumbalara - North Gosford Tottenham Place Circuit (3km)

Rumbalara - Plateau Road Ridgeline Loop (6km)

Somersby Aboriginal Engravings (1km return)

Somersby Falls (1km Return)

Somersby Falls Lower Swimming Hole 3km return

South Umina Dog Walk (1km) Return

Spion Kop - Return from Bambina Road (13km)

Spion Kop - Koolewong Return (8.5km)

Strickland - Aboriginal Engravings (0.4km)

Strickland - Bottom to Top (5km)

Strickland - Cabbage Tree Tack (2.3km)

Strickland Falls (1.8km)

Strickland Arboretum Loop (2.3km)

Strickland - Niagara Park to (4.5km)

Tuggerah Lake Walk 22km One Way

Tunnel Trail Dog Walk (4km) Return

Tunnel Trail (12km) Return

Umina Beach Wildflower Walk (4km)

Upper Mangrove 10 Mile Hollow Loop 24.3km

Upper Mangrove to Wisemans Ferry 30km

Wamberal Beach Dog Walk (3km) Return

Winney Bay Lookout to Avoca (3km)

Wisemans Ferry Old North Road 9km Loop

Woy Woy - Lions Park - Blackwall Mt (3.6km)

Woy Woy Baths

Wyoming Rain Forest Walk (3km)

Wyoming Dog Walk (2.2km) Return

Wyrrabalong Coastal Walk (4km)

About Shea and Dave

Shea and Dave

If anyone knows the directors of Good Architect, they know that they are avid bushwalkers. The beauty of the Australian bush is central to our designs from using shakkei to incorporating natural materials and colours. Below is a list of walks we love with a google maps link to the start and every point along the way so that everyone can enjoy these beautiful walks without too many adventures. (Adventures happen when you don't know quite where you are or where you are supposed to be).

We also have a guide to Wildflowers on the Central Coast because there are so many stunning flowers in the bush here.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse